Thursday, September 07, 2006

Willis

Dang, I got a few emails from locals that were disappointed that I didn’t do a story yesterday on Willis. The problem for me was that there would be very little I could have added to the story to make it any funnier or sadder.

Well here goes, a day late… Astoria’s mayor and Pepsi distributor, and I am quite certain the voice of South Park’s character, “Butters” was arrested after he slammed his mid-life crisis Harley donor cycle into a car driven by an unlicensed, uninsured driver. This is his third DUII offence.

Personally I feel that if you are stupid enough to ride a mid-life crisis donor cycled, and do so drunk, you are looking for a way to end it all. It is pretty certain that you will only take yourself out in the process since most auto drivers can survive being hit by a donor cycle. Yes, it’s not pleasant for the innocent party to be a part, but it beats a drunk in a car hitting a donor cycle.

True, it could have. It was a couple blocks West from his home. I'd hate to think he was that hammered in the morning or early afternoon, so I'll asume it was evening.Being a three time loser doesn't reflect well on him when he needs the respect of the voters and those who he works closely with. Look at all the respect Ted Kennedy lost not only for him but for his family and his party. Yes he still gets elected, but there is always a cloud over him.

I don't know all that much about Willis other than he sounds like Butters from South Park. He has been Mayor for several terms now, so the voters must be pleased with something he is doing or not doing, or they may be oblivious as they are in the case of other elected officials, and just vote because of name recognization.

I'd be happy to hear comments either here or on the message board. I can't vote for him, but your comment may help others who can vote in Astoria, one way or the other.

Wondering why?The Astoria Police weren't at the scene? Why, OSP?Why wasn't he "booked"?I like the Mayor, alcohol addiction effects Mayor's too.Willis is friendly to ALL people, makes a difference in a small town.You know not "stuck up"He devotes much of his free time to the community.

Probably in the event that the local police are accused of favoring a local political figure, just the same way the DA is sending the case to another county for trial.

I've gotten all sorts of comments on him from drunken baffoon, to a true diplomat.

Regardless, he hasn't seemed to learn from his past mistakes. I guess it's ok to be a mayor with a drinking problem as long as he doesn't drive and he should be sober when functioning in the interest of the city. What he does on his own time is his business unless he hurts someone.

APD was dispatched to the call and after they saw who was involved called OSP. It was the right thing to do.

As for Willis, he should resign. Not because of his alcoholism but because he broke the law three times. He is not using appropriate judgement (right from wrong; legal from illegal) in his personal life so why should we allow him to continue to be mayor? I do not know him personnally but many tell me that he is a nice guy; but this is not about being a nice guy or a mean guy. It is about breaking the law. His poor choice put the lives of others at risk.

And the odds of him resigning are probably pretty close to 0%. Especially with the election so near. And if he wins he will have a political clean slate. And if he screws up, it will saddly be expected.

Will the Mayor be required to attend alcohol classes and to view the MADD movie? Just curious.Very stupid to drink and drive.He should have been thrown in jail, at least for the night.He is the Mayor...he is a leader, shame on him. What a poor message he is sending to our youths?

The youths have no idea of who Willis is nor do they care. They are more obsessed with the alcohol and drug abusers in pop culture who make it look cool. A middle aged drunk on a donor cycle doesn't even blip on their radar.

When you have money and can make bail you don't have to sit in jail unless a judge deems you as a flight risk.

I don't know what diversion requires of its participants. I would be happy to hear from those who know.

The entire system seems to be set up to educate, shame and financially burden people who drink and drive. Perhaps Willis in immune to all three intended outcomes.

Wet Willy just doesn't seemed to have gotten the message that drunk driving is something that society will tolerate in the 21st Century--Time for him cop some consequences for his actions. I find it pretty dingdanged silly he wasn't even taken down to the jail for prints and prints and all that other booking stuff before someone called his mommy to come get his drunken ass. Whoever heard of anyone getting cited and released on a DUII w/out being taken in? It don't happen folks. Something smells bad in Astoria, and it just aint Wild Willie's booze breath....

I admit I would have loved to see that mug shot, but I guess he may have something akin to frequent users benefits. They have it all on file and it was recent enough, maybe a few more grey hairs, but why bring someone to the station who might vomit in the cruiser.

Yes, the A last night reported he's in Arizona at a Betty Ford clinic. It will be hard to campaign from there. I guess he will be running on his record. If he can pull that off, he must be a popular guy.